Knute Buehler Defeats the Two Opponents to His Right to Win GOP Nomination for Governor

By Nigel Jaquiss

State Rep. Knute Buehler (R-Bend) is getting another crack at Oregon Gov. Kate Brown this November.

Buehler took a kicking from his two leading primary opponents, Bend businessman Sam Carpenter and former Navy pilot Greg Wooldridge, both of who ran to Buehler's right.

Carpenter tried to channel President Donald Trump, while Wooldridge tried to channel former President Ronald Reagan. But in the end, results showed Carpenter was an unpleasant man with too much to say and Wooldridge was a pleasant man with nothing to say.

Buehler has 48.6 percent of the vote in early returns. That will be plenty of margin over Carpenter, who has 28.1 percent, and Wooldridge, who is running third with 16.9 percent.

Buehler's victory sets up a rematch with Brown, who defeated him in the 2012 race for secretary of state. He faces long odds, given that no Republican has won a governor's race in Oregon since 1982, and perhaps more importantly, Democrats hold.

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.